Photo Tours of the Top 20 Cruise Ships in the World

83 Photos

January 17, 2012

Photo tours of the top 20 cruise ships in the world, showcasing their luxury cruise cabins, sundecks, pools, and more. Take a virtual tour of these cruise ships before you decide to book your next vacation.

Seabourn Odyssey

The highest rated of Seabourn’s impressive fleet, the Seabourn Odyssey was launched in 2009 as the first of Seabourn’s trio of larger ships (the Sojourn and Quest followed in June 2010 and June 2011). Each has 225 suites, compared to 104 on the line’s earlier ships. Almost 90 percent of the cabins, which range in size from 295 to 1,189 square feet, have verandas. As with other Seabourn ships (all of which score in the 90s on Condé Nast Traveler's Readers’ Choice Survey), chef Charlie Palmer presides over the kitchens, but a new addition is the Colonnade, an indoor/outdoor restaurant where meals are prepared in an open kitchen. At 11,400 square feet, the Spa at Seabourn is one of the largest found on any luxury ship. The Odyssey spends much of the year exploring the Mediterranean (Greek Isles, Dalmatian Coast, and Turkey), but also has Fort Lauderdale-to-Los Angeles and South Pacific itineraries.

Itineraries/Schedule: 94.6

Shore Excursions: 90.9

Crew/Service: 95.7

Cabins: 96.7

Food/Dining: 97.8

Activites/Facilities: 91.1

Design/Layout: 93.5

Passengers: 450

Seabourn Odyssey

Circumnavigating the globe over the course of the year, Seabourn Odyssey gives prime time to the Adriatic, the Aegean, and New Zealand. The full global itinerary is a traveler’s dream come true.

Seabourn Odyssey

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Seabourn Odyssey

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Seabourn Odyssey

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Seabourn Pride

Like her sister ships the Legend and the Spirit, the **Seabourn Pride **has a staff-to-passenger ratio of nearly one to one. Guests stay in 104 suites, ranging from 277 to 575 square feet; 40 percent have balconies, and all have ocean views. Drinks at the four bars and lounges are included in your fare, as are all meals, even when you choose to opt for one of the smaller restaurants over the main dining room; each has a menu created by chef Charlie Palmer. Like her sister ships (which also score in the 90s on the Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Survey), the Pride has a private marina, which extends from the rear of the ship, allowing guests to enjoy water sports even at sea. The Pride gets around: In addition to world cruises, she has Baltic, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and Asian itineraries.

Itineraries/Schedule: 96.7

Shore Excursions: 84.2

Crew/Service: 98.3

Cabins: 93.3

Food/Dining: 96.7

Activites/Facilities: 88.3

Design/Layout: 93.3

Passengers: 208

Seabourn Pride

A trendsetter when she was launched in 1988, _Seabourn Pride _pioneered large staterooms, each with a picture window, and open seating in restaurants whose kitchens would win accolades on land.

Seabourn Pride

Seabourn Pride

Seabourn Pride

National Geographic Endeavour, Lindblad

The forerunner of Lindblad Expeditions first led tours of the Galápagos in 1967, and the company acquired the Endeavour in 1996 (it was originally used as a North Sea fishing trawler), so both the line and the ship are old hands at sailing the islands that Darwin made famous. The 96-passenger ship has 10- and 16-day-long itineraries departing from Guayaquil, Ecuador, every Friday. The Endeavour is a small expedition ship, and passengers shouldn’t expect luxury-liner amenities, but all cabins have small writing desks and views of the water; meals are single-seating at unassigned tables. One of the ship’s unusual features is a floating massage platform, for treatments made complete by the gentle rocking motion of the sea.

Itineraries/Schedule: 100.0

Shore Excursions: 100.0

Crew/Service: 100.0

Cabins: 84.6

Food/Dining: 88.5

Activites/Facilities: 92.3

Design/Layout: 84.6

Passengers: 96

National Geographic Endeavour, Lindblad

Zodiac boats aren’t the only choice aboard Lindblad’s National Geographic Endeavour. It also has kayaks, a glass-bottom boat, wet suits, and snorkeling gear for exploring the Galápagos year-round.

National Geographic Endeavour, Lindblad

National Geographic Endeavour, Lindblad

National Geographic Endeavour, Lindblad

Seabourn Sojourn

The second of the three new-build Seabourn ships, the 450-passenger Sojourn is nearly two-and-a-half times the size of the line’s older ships. Instead of the intimacy of a smaller, 200 passenger vessel, you’ll find more to see and do, including an 11,400-square-foot, two-story spa with outdoor space and cabanas. Cabins have been upgraded: 90 percent have verandahs, and Sojourn features suites with solariums. Best of all, Seabourn’s specialties—fabulous service, plenty of space per cruiser and a water-sports marina.

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Itineraries/Schedule:** 88.6

Shore Excursions: 84.8

Crew/Service: 97.1

Cabins: 97.1

Food/Dining: 97.1

Activites/Facilities: 88.2

Design/Layout: 85.7

Passengers: 450

Seabourn Sojourn

Seabourn Sojourn, like her sisters Odyssey and Quest, specializes in posh outdoor spaces, but she also has one of the largest spas of any luxury ship (11,400 square feet) and one of the finest kitchens.

Seabourn Sojourn

Seabourn Sojourn

Seabourn Sojourn

Paul Gauguin

The only ship in the Paul Gauguin Cruises line, the 332-passenger Paul Gauguin sails where Gauguin painted. It was built specifically for the islands and atolls of French Polynesia, where shallow depths often keep larger ships at a distance from ports. Itineraries include some of the more remote archipelagoes, notably the little-known Tuamotus, as well as many islands that even veteran travelers may not have heard of, such as Ua Huka in the Marquesas, an island populated principally by horses and goats. The ship has seven guest decks that accommodate passengers in cabins ranging from Porthole Staterooms to a variety of suites; 70 percent of all the cabins have balconies or verandas. A retractable marina and an onboard dive program occupy days, which end with dinners where wines are served gratis.

Itineraries/Schedule: 95.1

Shore Excursions: 87.9

Crew/Service: 97.1

Cabins: 87.8

Food/Dining: 91.2

Activites/Facilities: 86.6

Design/Layout: 87.8

Passengers: 332

Paul Gauguin

Yes, this could be you. Cruising the South Pacific year-round, Paul Gauguin not only offers scuba from the onboard marina but she also provides scuba lessons and even a PADI certification program.

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin

Paul Gauguin

Crystal Serenity

The 535-cabin Crystal Serenity underwent an extensive renovation in May 2011, with new bedding and updated decor (tufted headboards and state-of-the-art lighting), which brought it up to par with the Symphony, its slightly smaller sister ship. Both ships have Creative Learning Institutes, with course offerings from language classes to keyboard lessons, which help earn the line some of the industry’s highest scores for activities among Condé Nast Traveler readers. New in 2011 on both ships are “Perfect Choice Dining,” which provides passengers with flexible dining times in the main restaurant, and the "You Care, We Care" program, in which Crystal covers the expenses of their new voluntourism-focused shore excursions. In addition to world cruises, the Serenity can often be found in the Baltic early in the summer, the Mediterranean in late summer and fall, and the Caribbean in winter. Itineraries after March 2012 are all-inclusive, with complimentary wine and spirits and prepaid gratuities.

Itineraries/Schedule: 93.3

**Shore Excursions: **87.3

Crew/Service: 96.6

Cabins: 89.6

Food/Dining: 96.6

Activites/Facilities: 93.3

Design/Layout: 95.6

Passengers: 1,070

Crystal Serenity

Consistently rated among the best ships, the luxurious 535-stateroom Crystal Serenity is like a floating Beverly Hills, with fine boutiques, restaurants, a spa, a theater, pools, lounges, and a great deal more.

Crystal Serenity

Crystal Serenity

Crystal Symphony

Along with the slightly larger Serenity, the service and amenities aboard the 461-cabin Crystal Symphony have sufficiently impressed Condé Nast Traveler readers that they have voted Crystal the world’s best large-ship cruise line in a record 17 Readers’ Choice surveys. Symphony was the first of the line’s two ships to go under the knife: a multimillion-dollar renovation completed in 2009 gave the ship a more contemporary feel. The Symphony and the Serenity have the same lineup of dining venues, including Silk Road (under the direction of celebrity chef Nobu Matsuhisa) and restaurateur Piero Selvaggio’s Prego. The Symphony will be spending summer 2011 on North America’s West Coast and summer 2012 in Europe; in fall foliage season, it can often be found off the New England and eastern Canadian coasts. Itineraries after March 2012 are all-inclusive, with complimentary wine and spirits and prepaid gratuities.

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Itineraries/Schedule:** 93.2

Shore Excursions: 89.2

Crew/Service: 96.0

Cabins: 90.0

Food/Dining: 94.4

Activites/Facilities: 91.5

Design/Layout: 94.6

Passengers: 922

Crystal Symphony

Crystal Symphony—like her equally luxurious Crystal Cruises fleetmate, Serenity—will have prominent photographers on 11 of her cruises in 2012 to take your portrait and hold informal seminars for shutterbugs.

Crystal Symphony

Crystal Symphony

Seven Seas Voyager

The highest rated of Regent Seven Seas’ ships, the Seven Seas Voyager may bill itself as the second “all-suite, all-balcony” ship and the second vessel to have a restaurant operated by Le Cordon Bleu (the first ship, in both cases, being her sister the Mariner), but the Voyager is first in terms of the size of its staterooms. With the smallest measuring 356 square feet, the ship has the largest “lead-in” suites in the industry. The Voyager was renovated in December 2008, and new additions include the Prime 7 steak house and a Canyon Ranch–branded spa. The Voyager is always on the move, from the Indian Ocean to the Pacific, though in summer she can often be found in the Mediterranean or Scandinavia.

Itineraries/Schedule: 95.8

Shore Excursions: 84.4

Crew/Service: 95.8

Cabins: 95.8

Food/Dining: 93.2

Activites/Facilities: 89.2

Design/Layout: 94.3

Passengers: 700

Seven Seas Voyager

As luxurious as her Regent Seven Seas fleetmate Seven Seas Mariner but two years younger, Seven Seas Voyager cruises Eurasian coastlines from Scandinavia to China and Bali, as well as Australia and New Zealand.

Seven Seas Voyager

Seven Seas Voyager

Seven Seas Mariner

The Seven Seas Mariner was launched in 2001 as the world’s first “all-suite, all-balcony” ship and has been regularly refurbished since then. All three Regent ships underwent a $70 million “enhancement” in 2009, which included the addition of a contemporary steak house, Prime 7. That same year, the cruise line began its partnership with Canyon Ranch, which oversees the ship’s spa and fitness area. Since April 2011, all Regent packages have included pre-cruise hotel accommodations and ground transfers to the ship. From April to November, the Mariner sails Mediterranean itineraries; in March and November she makes Atlantic crossings; in the winter and spring, she starts in the Caribbean and does a circumnavigation of South America.

Itineraries/Schedule: 93.8

Shore Excursions: 81.9

Crew/Service: 94.2

Cabins: 92.7

Food/Dining: 90.5

Activites/Facilities: 90.0

Design/Layout: 89.6

Passengers: 700

Seven Seas Mariner

Launched in 2001, Regent’s Seven Seas Mariner set a new standard for cruises: Every cabin was a suite with a balcony. She summers in the Mediterranean and the Aegean, and drifts from Florida to Rio in winter.

Seven Seas Mariner

Seven Seas Mariner

Seven Seas Mariner

Regatta

The Regatta was Oceania’s very first ship, launched in 1998 and refurbished in 2011. It set the tone for the line—a luxury product on mid-sized ships at competitive prices. Like its sister ship the Nautica, the Regatta has 342 staterooms as well as four dining venues under the direction of Jacques Pépin. Also like the other Oceania vessels, it has collaborated with Canyon Ranch since 2009—the spa menu ventures beyond the standard therapeutic offerings to include acupuncture, Ayurveda, and reiki. This year, the Regatta will mark some firsts for the Oceania line when it sails to Alaska in the summer and the coasts of New England and eastern Canada in the fall.

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Itineraries/Schedule:** 93.8

Shore Excursions: 65.9

Crew/Service: 95.9

Cabins: 90.7

Food/Dining: 96.6

Activites/Facilities: 77.7

Design/Layout: 93.4

Passengers: 684

Regatta

More than 70% of the 342 staterooms aboard the Regatta, the flagship of the Oceania Cruises’ line, have verandas; a crew of 400 serves the guests, who number fewer than 700 even when the ship is sold out.

Regatta

Regatta

Regatta

Disney Magic

One of the original two sister ships of the Disney Cruise Line, the 2,700-passenger Disney Magic debuted in 1998. The emphasis (not surprisingly) is on family fun and entertainment: the ship has a Little Mermaid nursery for the youngest passengers, as well as the 24-hour, teens-only Vibe, where a "Central Perk" decor includes flat-screen TVs and video games. Any passengers in need of a break from the kids can head to four adults-only lounges, including the roadhouse-inspired Rockin’ Bar D and the mellower Sessions piano bar. Magic’s itineraries are concentrated in the Mediterranean in the summer and the Caribbean in the winter, including calls at Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas.

Itineraries/Schedule: 92.3

Shore Excursions: 84.9

Crew/Service: 96.0

Cabins: 90.4

Food/Dining: 84.7

Activites/Facilities: 92.7

Design/Layout: 94.0

Passengers: 2,700

Disney Magic

Colorful inside and out, the family-centric Disney Magic sails seven-day itineraries in the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico; Disney Wonder does shorter sailings to the Bahamas. Both are based in Fort Lauderdale.

Disney Magic

Disney Magic

Disney Magic

Celebrity Eclipse

The third ship in Celebrity’s stylish, five-ship Solstice class, the **Eclipse **debuted in Southampton, England, in April 2010. She has all the bells and whistles of her sisters, including the Lawn Club (home to the first half-acre patch of grass at sea), a glassblowing show, and a bar that serves “molecular gastronomy” cocktails. At the Eclipse’s innovative cybercafe, iLounge, passengers can take web design and digital photography classes and shop at an Apple store. Eclipse launched Qsine, an interactive restaurant with iPad wine lists, decorate-your-own cupcakes, crab dip that cooks at your table on heated lava rocks, and sushi presented as lollipops.

Itineraries/Schedule: 83.2

Shore Excursions: 68.3

Crew/Service: 93.7

Cabins: 96.9

Food/Dining: 90.6

Activites/Facilities: 89.7

Design/Layout: 95.3

Passengers: 2,850

Celebrity Eclipse

Iceland is on a Celebrity Eclipse itinerary and was an early part of her history: When the 2010 volcanic eruption shut down Heathrow, the ship rescued 2,000 British travelers stuck in Spain as “an act of good will.”

Celebrity Eclipse

Disney Dream

Disney continues to set the bar high with the_ Disney Dream_, which mixes a sense of fantasy with technology to create innovative new features. For example, the first aquatic roller coaster at sea, the AquaDuck, is a serious upgrade for kids used to top-deck water slides. Interior cabins have been fit with “magical” portholes, which show live feeds, and hallways are lined with “enchanted” paintings, which are LCD screens showing videos of animated characters. There’s plenty for parents, too, from an adults-only pool to Remy, a Ratatouille-themed French restaurant.

Itineraries/Schedule: 81.1

Shore Excursions: 79.1

Crew/Service: 90.7

Cabins: 92.6

Food/Dining: 88.9

Activites/Facilities: 96.3

Design/Layout: 90.7

Passengers: 4,000

Disney Dream

Launched in 2011, Disney Dream is Mickey’s biggest ship so far. What’s new? An AquaDuck water-coaster for tots, a Wii club room for teens, and a $75 prix fixe French restaurant for grown-ups.

Disney Dream

Disney Wonder

One of the Disney Cruise Line’s first two ships, the **Disney Wonder **debuted in 1999, a year after her sister ship, the Magic. As with the Magic, the Wonder celebrates Disney characters and the artists who created them. The ship’s godmother was Tinkerbell, while all Disney ships include Animator’s Palate restaurants, whose interiors are decorated with sketches of characters and feature columns and walls at impossible fun-house angles. A show starring costumed cast members is the highlight of dinner. (Passengers who want a break from all the family fun can head to the adults-only Remy for French or Palo for Italian.) In 2011, the Wonder began offering Alaska itineraries in the summer; she sails in the Bahamas and along the Mexican Riviera in the fall and winter.

Itineraries/Schedule: 86.3

Shore Excursions: 79.4

Crew/Service: 95.6

Cabins: 90.4

Food/Dining: 84.1

Activites/Facilities: 91.8

Design/Layout: 93.4

Passengers: 2,700

Disney Wonder

Seattle artist Dale Chihuly created the elaborate chandelier in the lobby area of the Disney Wonder, providing a contemporary take on the ship’s art noveau inspired design.

Disney Wonder

Disney Wonder

Disney Wonder

Celebrity Equinox

The Celebrity Equinox is the second of the fleet’s top-of-the-line Solstice-class ships, the most remarkable feature of which is the half-acre lawn on the top deck, covered with real grass, where passengers picnic, lounge, and play croquet or bocce. Fort Lauderdale is its home port for winter cruises in the Caribbean, from Mexico to Barbados; Rome is home in summer for Mediterranean cruises; and two 14-night “repositioning” transatlantic cruises connect the two cities in April and November. The two-week cruises are the only option if you want to test all ten onboard dining venues. Three of them—Continental, Asian, and Italian kitchens—promise extra-special food and service for extra fees. The main dining room is a dramatic draw, however; it’s white and glittering, with a two-story wine rack at the center. A Mediterranean restaurant is only available to passengers who stay in the spa-class cabins, which also include free access to steam rooms and saunas.

Itineraries/Schedule: 94.3

Shore Excursions: 72.0

Crew/Service: 94.3

Cabins: 91.5

Food/Dining: 84.8

Activites/Facilities: 87.4

Design/Layout: 92.4

Passengers: 2,850

Celebrity Equinox

Blue sky, blue water—and now a taste of nature. _Celebrity Equinox _cultivates a grass lawn on her top deck, with croquet and golf. Equinox sails the Caribbean and the Mediterranean as far east as Turkey.

Celebrity Equinox

Celebrity Equinox

River Queen

One of Uniworld’s older ships, the River Queen was launched in 1999 and can boast some river cruise ship firsts, including the first elevator and the first ship to be constructed with three decks and a Sun Deck (now common to many Uniworld ships). While the River Queen was refurbished in 2005, it retains its distinct riverboat profile, recalling vintage steamships, while the decor in the common areas plays on Art Deco themes in blue and white. Standard staterooms measure 151 square feet, while suites are approximately 65 square feet larger. Most of the year, the ship sails the “European Jewels” itinerary, from Amsterdam to Budapest along the Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers.

Itineraries/Schedule: 100.0

Shore Excursions: 100.0

Crew/Service: 97.2

Cabins: 87.3

Food/Dining: 94.4

Activites/Facilities: 97.1

Design/Layout: 95.8

Passengers: 132

River Queen

Uniworld’s River Queen introduced the topside sundeck when she debuted in 1999, looking like a classic 1930s steamer. She has lush staterooms outfitted with hotel beds, and cruises the Rhine and Moselle rivers.

River Queen

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River Beatrice

The River Beatrice debuted in March 2009, and Condé Nast Traveler readers have already rated it the world’s best river ship. Eighty percent of its 80 staterooms have French balconies (only the 13 cabins on the lowest of its three decks do not). Most staterooms are 150 square feet, decorated in stylized floral patterns and crisp whites and beiges, while suites measure 225 square feet. The fare at the restaurant, on the Danube Deck, draws inspiration from Austrian and Hungarian cuisine, appropriate given that the ship’s itineraries follow the Danube from Budapest to Linz, Germany, with a day in Salzburg (reached via bus).

Itineraries/Schedule: 96.5

Shore Excursions: 96.5

Crew/Service: 94.2

Cabins: 91.9

Food/Dining: 93.0

Activites/Facilities: 89.5

Design/Layout: 92.9

Passengers: 160

River Beatrice

River Beatrice

The simple, boxy exterior of River Beatrice belies the silk-lined hallways, fine furnishings, and works of art that grace the interiors. Launched for Uniworld in 2009, she sails the Danube.

River Beatrice

Viking Helvetia

Built in 2006, Viking River Cruises’ 198-passenger Viking Helvetia sails the Rhine between Amsterdam and Basel. All shore excursions, largely tours of small German towns, are included. But when the vessel slowly makes its way through the lock and key systems—which in some cases can take the better part of the day—the onboard entertainment includes demonstrations on glass-blowing, cuckoo-clock building, and wooden shoe carving. Other days you can learn how to make German apple strudel or Alsatian flammkuchen when not looking out your stateroom's oversized window for passing castles.

Itineraries/Schedule: 95.5

Shore Excursions: 94.0

Crew/Service: 94.7

Cabins: 88.7

Food/Dining: 90.2

Activites/Facilities: 88.6

Design/Layout: 90.2

Passengers: 198

Viking Helvetia

Airy and elegant, Viking Helvetia cruises the Rhine for Viking River Cruises. Europe’s shores are always within view through panoramic windows and large picture windows in staterooms, and from open-air decks.

Viking Legend

The one thing that distinguishes the 189-passenger Viking Legend (and the Viking Prestige) from Viking River Cruises’ other ships won’t be obvious when you first step aboard. In 2009, when the Legend joined the Viking fleet, it was outfitted with a propulsion system that increased fuel efficiency by 20 percent (a green first in the industry) and provided for a quieter cruise. The ship has two 310-square-foot suites, while most staterooms measure 155 square feet; those on the upper two (of three) decks have French balconies. Solo travelers may want to consider one of the Legend's five single berths. All cabins are stocked with L’Occitane products and furnished with flat-screen TVs. The Legend sails between Passau and Budapest (or, on a longer trip, between Nuremberg and Budapest) along Europe’s most legendary river, the Danube.

Itineraries/Schedule: 95.1

Shore Excursions: 94.8

Crew/Service: 95.1

Cabins: 87.1

Food/Dining: 88.6

Activites/Facilities: 87.8

Design/Layout: 91.3

Passengers: 189

Viking Legend

Built for green cruising—with a hybrid engine that reduces vibrations, noise, and pollution—Viking Legend plies the Danube. As on other Viking Cruise river ships, ample glass provides ample views from any spot.

Viking Legend

Viking Legend

River Royale

One of the newer members of the Uniworld family, the **River Royale **was inaugurated in 2006. As its name implies, this ship sails only French itineraries. Staterooms on the highest, Azure Deck have French balconies and are decorated in a blue-and-gold theme, while Burgundy staterooms on the deck below are, appropriately, decorated in deep red; all come stocked with L’Occitane products. While the ship is sailing, passengers spend most of their time on the Azure Deck, also the home of the reception and lounge areas, or above, on the Sun Deck. The ship travels through Burgundy and Provence, on the Saône and Rhône rivers.

Itineraries/Schedule: 95.3

Shore Excursions: 95.3

Crew/Service: 96.5

Cabins: 88.4

Food/Dining: 87.2

Activites/Facilities: 83.7

Design/Layout: 91.9

Passengers: 132

River Royale

Bringing luxury to France’s Rhône Valley may be redundant, but Uniworld’s River Royale does it. With her 2006 debut, she set the standard for river ships’ lavish interiors—marble, leather, brass, wood, and fine fabrics.